Joint concealer and shelf t



Aug. 14, 1962 J. J. GRUBER ET AL 3,049,199

JOINT CONCEALER AND SHELF T Filed Dec. 8, 1958 INVENTORS JOSEPH J.GRUBER BY JOSEPH J. DeFALCO United rates Patent G p 3,049,199 JOINT CONCEALER AND SHELF T Joseph J. Gruber, Depew, and Joseph J. De Falco, Buffalo, N.Y., assignors to Fenestra, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 778,835 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to a building structure and refers in particular to a joint concealer and shelf T for use with root or floor panels to provide a composite roof or floor and ceiling construction having acoustical treatment and troifer lighting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a unitary joint concealer and shelf T that can be attached to roof or floor panels to provide a means of support for acoustically treated elements and light diifusers to form a flush ceiling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a unitary joint concealer and shelf T that can be attached to a roof or floor panel that serves to conceal the joint between two adjacent panels when it is used with the panels to form a flush ceiling.

Another object is to provide a joint concealer and shelf T comprising an elongated member having both longitudinal edge portions returned along the same surface thereof to form shelves of double thickness at both longitudinal edges of the shelf T, the edge portions terminating in stem portions extending at right angles to the shelves, the stem portions including means for attachment thereof to a building structure.

Another object is to provide a composite floor and flush ceiling construction including building panels and unitary joint concealer and shelf T members for concealing the ceiling joint between the building panels and providing flush support for acoustical ceiling members and light diffusers.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partly in section and partly broken away illustrating the metal panels forming the ceiling and roof of a building with the joint concealer and shelf T in place.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of the joint concealer and shelf T.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated generally at a ceiling and roof structure. The structure is comprised of identical generally channel shaped metal panels 12 assembled in side by side relation. Each panel has a web portion 14 and legs or flanges 16 and 18. Leg 16 is bent at right angles to form a flange portion 20 that terminates in the female joint 22. Leg 18 is bent at right angles to form a flange 24 that terminates in an upstanding portion 26 to form the male portion of the joint. Rib 28 serves to stiflen the portion 14. The panels can be supported on structural members 30 of a building structure.

In assembly the panels 12 placed side by side form an upper surface 32 over which a floor or roof may be placed. The panels in assembly as shown comprise a series of longitudinal joists 36 formed by the joining of the flanges 20 and 24 on the lower ends of flanges 16 and 18. The joists 36 define openings or ducts 38 therebetween into which acoustical panels or lights may be placed.

According to the present invention a joint concealer and shelf T member 40 is provided which extends across 3,049,199 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 the lower surface 34 of joints 36 and into the ducts adjacent thereto. Joint concealer and shelf T member 40 can be formed from a flat sheet of metal with the portion 42 return bent at 44 and 46 to form the platforms or shelves of a double thickness of metal at 48 and 50. Legs 52 and 54 are spaced apart a distance to enable the member 40 to fit snugly against flanges 16 and 18 of adjacent panels.

Apertures 56 are provided in each leg 52 and 54 adjacent the ends of the member 40 with additional apertures spaced at suitable distances along the length of legs 52 and 54 to permit the securing of the member in place with screws 58 or other suitable fastening devices.

With the member 40 in place it will be noted that the portion 42 covers and conceals the joint where the adjacent panels 12 meet and serves to securely hold the panels together. If desirable, the joint between panels 12 can be welded or crimped as indicated at 60.

In place, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, member 40 also provides a shelf on both sides of longitudinal joists 36 on which plane or acoustical plates 64, light diffuser plates 82 and the like may be supported to provide a flush ceiling construction. The return bends 4'4 and 46 of member 40 provide finished edges in the flush ceiling construction shown so that the entire ceiling presents a pleasing appearance without exposed joints or rough edges.

Plate 64 has upturned legs 66 and 68 at each terminal edge. The plate 64 is inserted into the opening or duct 38 by tipping the plate at an angle to the surface formed by portion 42 of member 40 and then allowing the edge portions of plate 64 adjacent to legs 66 and 68 to seat on shelves 50 and 48 respectively of adjacent members 40.

To provide acoustical treatment the plate is perforated with apertures 72 and a batt 74 of sound absorbing material is placed on the plate 64 by inserting through an open end of the duct 38. Preformed acoustical tiles may be used in place of the perforated plate and sound absor-bing pad.

For recessed or trofler lighting the fixture can be assembled into the duct through the open side. Light difluser plate 82 of opaque glass or other suitable material is inserted into the duct and the terminal edge portions 84 and 86 seated upon shelves 50 and 48 respectively of the shelf T.

If desirable to use the duct 38 for pipes or wiring, a sheet of metal 88 or other suitable material may be used to close the duct in the same manner as previously described.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved joint concealer and shelf T in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In combination with a composite floor and ceiling construction including a plurality of elongated generally channel shaped building panels in side by side relation wherein said panels have horizontal web portions, downwardly extending flange portions at each longitudinal edge of said web portions, and horizontal flange portions extending laterally outwardly from said downwardly extending flange portions, said composite floor and ceiling construction also including means forming joints along the length of the building panels connecting the edge of said horizontal flange portions of the adjacent building panels whereby the adjacent horizontal and downwardly extending flange portions form joists, said joists defining longitudinal ducts therebetween; a joint concealer and shelf T distinct from the last mentioned means comprising a substantially flat elongated rectangular member having both longitudinal edge portions returned along the same surface thereof at an angle of 180", said edge portions terminating in leg portions extending substantially perpendicularly to said member to form shelves between the terminal edge of said member and said leg portions, said leg portions being flat and substantially further apart than the width of said shelves whereby said joint concealer and shelf T is adapted to fit snugly over the lower portion of a joist, said leg portions also including openings through which fastening means for said joint concealer and shelf T may extend.

2. -A composite floor and ceiling-construction comprising a plurality of elongated generally channel shaped building panels inside by side relation, said panels having horizontal web portions, downwardly extending flange portions at each longitudinal edge of said web portions, and horizontal flange portions extending laterally outwardly from said building panels at the lower edge of each of said downwardly extending flange portions, means securing the adjacent horizontal flange portions together whereby joints are formed along the length of the building panels, the adjacent horizontal and downwardly extending flange portions forming joists, said joists defining longitudinal ducts therebetween, and joint concealer and shelf Ts distinct from the last mentioned means comprising substantially flat elongated members secured to the lower portion of said joists and-extending across the bottom surface and beyond the sides thereof and into the ad- 'jacentducts, whereby the joint between the building panels is concealed and shelves are provided in said ducts on which acoustical tile, light diffusers and the like are removably supported to provide a flushceiling.

3. A composite floor and ceiling construction comprising a plurality of elongated generally channel shaped building panels in side by side relation, said panels having horizontal web portions, downwardly extending flange portions at each longitudinal edge of said web portions, and horizontal flange portions extending laterally outwardly from said downwardly extending flange portions at the lower edge of each of said downwardly extending flange portions, means securing the adjacent horizontal flange portions together whereby joints are formed along the length of the building panels, the adjacent horizontal and downwardly extending flange portions kforrning joists, said joists defining longitudinal ducts therebetween, and joint concealer and shelf Ts distinct from the last mentionedmeans comprising substantially flat elongated members having both longitudinal edges returned at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees along and substantially in contact with the same surface thereof to form shelves of double thickness, the joint concealer and shelf Ts being attached to the lower portion of said joists and extending across the bottom surface and beyond the sides thereof and into the adjacent ducts, whereby the joint between the building panels is concealed and shelves having a folded edge are provided in saidducts on which acoustical tile, light difiusers and the like are removably supported to provide a flush ceiling.

4. A composite floor and ceiling construction comprising apluralityof elongated generally channel shaped building panels in side by side relation, said panels having horizontal web portions, downwardly extending flange portions at each longitudinal edge of said web portions, and horizontal flange portions extending laterally outwardly from said downwardly extending flange portions at the lower edge of each of said downwardly extending flange portions, interfitting tongues and grooves .at the outer edge of adjacent horizontal flange portions connected in joints along the length of the building panels, the adjacent horizontal and downwardly extending flange portions forming joists, said joists defining longitudinal ducts therebetween, and joint concealer and shelf Ts comprising substantially flat elongated members having both longitudinal edge portions returned along the same surface thereof and substantially in contact therewith to form shelves of double thickness, the edge portions terminating in substantially planar legs extending away from said shelves at a substantially perpendicular angle .to said shelves, said legs being secured to the opposite sides of said joists, the joint concealer and shelf T.s extending across the bottom surface of said joists with the shelves protruding beyond the sides thereof and .into adjacent ducts, whereby the joints between the building panels are I concealed and shelves having a folded edge are provided in said ducts on which acoustical tile, light diffusers and the'like are removablysupported tto'provide a flush ceilmg.

'ReferencesCite'd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,869 Hathaway May 29, 1906 1,826,133 Hatch Oct.-6, 1931 2,388,968 Hedgren Nov. 13, 1945 2,659,807 Wakefield Nov. 17, 1953 A -AM... 

